La presencia

(2010) The Presence SUPERNATURAL DRAMA

Watching this film is like a short story expanded into a long subtle ghost story movie where nothing really happens throughout until the final act. Where the makers are asking us to observe and hold out until near the end is when things really start to happen. Co-produced, written and directed by Tom Provost starring Mira Sorvino as a woman walking into an isolated cabin on a island. And there appears to be a man inside of this cabin that she can't see who happens to be a ghost who is "The Presence" hence the title, he's played by Shane West. As this ghost stands around doing nothing exciting enough to scare her or anyone for that matter, except automatically turning on a record player or dislocating some books, we have come to the conclusion that the ghost is only a neutral ghost. Viewers get to know more information regarding the history of the cabin, as well as another ghost who happens to be up to no good, and doesn't conveniently appear until her boyfriend shows up. All I can say is that to say anymore is pointless, since their isn't really a plot to speak about except to say that the film is not even scary at all. It is however an "unique" one in the sense that in real life when things seem to move out of place, we can sometimes safely assume that it's the result of the ghost that moved those things in the same way people can believe in miracles. That if theirs a good ghost that there also must also be an evil one too, or an undivided one.

This is an odd one. There's some good acting and beautifully haunting locations on display. There's a creepy apparition type (Shane West), and a nice, slow-burning story being told, featuring some appealing characters. Yet for some reason director Tom Provost doesn't seem to want to make the most of the more dramatic moments.

An accident involving a rock fall is adequately staged, and yet contains no threat whatsoever. The music (provided by Jay Duerr among others) is determined to undermine such scenes. Often the incidentals are curiously jaunty when they should contain some menace.

Most characters remain unnamed; West provides a very solid 'ghost' - clean cut, hair gelled, looks like he might work out. Only a grey pallor indicates any other-worldliness. For a while, the most alarming things are the woman's (Mira Sorvino) mood swings.

I applaud Provost's desire to do something different but wish that more could have been made of the creepier moments. My score is 6 out of 10.

It is one of films who creates, scene by scene , ambiguous or different feelings . The silent beginning is great and you hope be silent whole film. Mira Sorvino does a good job but the too bizarre make up for poor Shane West- reduced at real presence - is not so inspired option. And the clash between woman and her boyfriend, the mystical final, the man in black in the bout and the black man as universal answer are too unconvincing. Short, noble intentions, beautiful beginning, poor Shane West and Justin Kirk , missing story , admirable cinematography and the desire to give a sort of spiritual or mystic film. But it fails.

My wife and I just watched it, and I thought it was quite good. It is certainly somewhat of a "chick flick", which probably accounts for many of the negative reviews (I actually don't see why so many guys don't like romantic movies). Now, if you try to make too much sense of it from a rational point of view, then you'll be missing the whole point. On the surface, it's a ghost story, but really it's about a woman struggling to come to terms with the male demons from her past and cast them out. It's kind of like abstract art - it's an emotional piece that amplifies what's inside the viewer. It sort of reminded me of "What Dreams May Come", another favorite of mine. I suggest you give it a shot.

That feeling on the back of your neck when you're in the house utterly alone, and it's completely silent

except for

that !

That's how this movie builds on you. It doesn't use gobs of red Karo syrup, and no one flies backward on a wire in front of a green screen. It instead plays on your childhood fears when real things go bump.

The house in which the story unfolds is a character unto itself - beautiful and creepy and very well photographed throughout.

A fun and refreshing ghost story, give it a tumble.